Chapter 4

Jasmine made no effort to conceal her irritation with Calvin. Rolling up her sleeve, she revealed the bandage wrapped around her arm and said flatly, "I'm hurt. I can't cook." Calvin bit back his reprimand. "Why didn't you say something sooner if you're injured?" Jasmine let out a bitter laugh. After all, would it have made a difference? He'd barely noticed whenever she was sick or injured for three years. She still remembered her appendicitis attack when Cora and the driver were away. She'd called Calvin, asking him to take her to the hospital. But he'd been boarding a flight to Elandra and told her to figure it out herself. In the end, Jasmine had to call for an ambulance. After her surgery, she hired a hospital caregiver since Calvin couldn't even be bothered to pay her a visit. After so many disappointments, she expected nothing from him anymore, but at least their miserable marriage was almost over. The ring of Calvin's phone shattered the silence between them. He glanced at the screen, then stepped outside onto the balcony. Jasmine watched him go, catching the soft murmur of his voice as he said, "Liv." A cold gust of wind swept in from the balcony. Shivering, she threw a jacket over her shoulders and made her way downstairs. Cora had texted late that night. Her grandson was sick, so she needed the day off. Jasmine told her not to worry and that she could handle things alone. She grabbed a canister of oats from the pantry, scooped a spoonful into a mug, and cracked an egg over it. She pierced the yolk, poured hot water, covered the mug, and placed it into the microwave. Three minutes later, breakfast was done. She carried the mug to the table, swirled in some skim milk, and topped it with a handful of nuts. Jasmine was just about to take her first bite when Calvin came downstairs. Seeing that she'd only prepared breakfast for one, he felt a sharp pinch of irritation. But the memory of her injury surfaced, and he swallowed his complaint. He moved closer, studying her simple meal with a frown. "This is all you're eating?" Jasmine didn't lift her gaze. Her tone was flat as she said, "Handle your own meals for the next few days. I'm sure Vanessa is more than capable of keeping you satisfied." Calvin had actually wanted Jasmine's butternut squash soup recipe. He planned to have Vanessa make it for Olivia. But Jasmine's icy demeanor froze the words in his throat. Turning away, he headed for the door. "I'll be at the hospital with Liv for two days. Call Vanessa if you don't feel well." Jasmine slowly crunched a nut between her teeth. "Got it." She'd called and texted Calvin daily two years ago when he finally pulled himself together and returned to work. She had checked in on his condition and asked when he'd be home for dinner. But her concern only grated on him. Eventually, he blocked her number. After that, her calls never went through. WhatsApp was the only way she could contact him, though she rarely used it afterward. Nevertheless, Calvin would always call her from Vanessa's phone whenever something urgent came up. … Calvin arrived at the hospital to find that Vanessa had already brought breakfast. "Mr. Ford, I picked these up from Glaser's and The Velvet Table, just as you asked. I've got butternut squash soup, chicken pot pie, and a few sides." Calvin nodded and gestured for her to take the food into Olivia's room. Olivia had just put on a touch of natural makeup when the knock sounded. She swiftly tucked her cosmetics into the drawer and leaned against the pillows. "Come in," she called. Only when Calvin and Vanessa entered did Olivia slowly sit up, stretching with a yawn. "Did I wake you, Liv?" Calvin stepped closer and took her hand. Olivia smiled. "Of course not. But you stayed with me all night. Won't Jasmine be upset?" The question stopped Calvin short. Olivia's words dragged his thoughts back to Jasmine's behavior that morning. He felt something was amiss. There was nothing between him and Olivia. Yet Jasmine's indifference to his absence left him unsettled. She should've… But no matter how he turned it over in his mind, he couldn't quite name what reaction he'd expected from her. He simply said, "She's easygoing and won't get upset. Let's have breakfast first." Olivia nodded. "Join me, won't you?" "Sure." Calvin ladled a portion of soup into a bowl and set it before her. He took a sip himself, but the flavor fell flat. He was so used to Jasmine's cooking that no other breakfast could ever measure up. Noticing his frown, Olivia asked, "What's wrong, Cal? Doesn't it taste good? This is Glaser's butternut squash soup, isn't it? We used to eat there all the time as kids. The flavor hasn't changed one bit." Calvin swallowed his honest thoughts and replied gently, "It's nothing. You should eat. I'm not really hungry." He set down his spoon, leaving the rest untouched. Then, he stepped out of the hospital room onto the balcony, tapped a cigarette from the pack, and cupped the flame from his lighter to his lips. That first drag finally eased the vise around his heart. Vanessa stepped forward. "Mr. Ford, should we reschedule the 9:30 am meeting?" "No." Calvin's voice came low and icy. Jasmine's face, tender and composed, surfaced in his mind. "Have Avery take the meeting, Vanessa. I need you to fetch Jasmine and bring her to the hospital to have her arm examined." Vanessa hesitated. She was no stranger to managing Calvin's personal matters, but never before had he tasked her with looking after Jasmine. Still, an order was an order. "Understood. I'll leave immediately." Calvin exchanged a few words with Olivia in the hospital room before leaving. Vanessa had just finished tidying up Olivia's takeout boxes and was about to leave when Olivia spoke. "Vanessa, I have a bit of a headache. Would you mind accompanying me for a check-up?" Vanessa hesitated, considering Olivia's request. To Calvin, Olivia clearly mattered far more than Jasmine. If Olivia was feeling unwell, caring for her came first, even if it meant skipping Jasmine's pickup. Vanessa was certain that Calvin wouldn't hold it against her. Vanessa quickly flashed a polite smile. "Of course, Ms. Zeller. I'll get the attending physician immediately to arrange your examination." Olivia smiled, satisfied with her compliance. … Bored at home, Jasmine called Penny and invited her for a meal. She thought that it was the perfect opportunity to discuss future work plans. They met at a café, and the instant Penny saw her, she hugged Jasmine tightly. "Jas, it's been way too long!" They reminisced about their college days, the memories bittersweet. "You know, Jas, if only you'd gone into business with me back then. You won national competitions multiple times. Even Professor Wade wanted you as his grad student." Jasmine's thoughts drifted to the past. She thought that everything felt different now. Marrying Calvin hadn't been a choice when James died, as Delilah needed money for treatment. It was a last resort. At least now, she was close to breaking free. Penny shifted the conversation back to work. The music academy where Penny worked was Resonance Arts Center, owned by an heiress from an ultra-wealthy family. The woman rarely involved herself in daily operations, leaving its management to her partners. Backed by money, resources, and powerful connections, Resonance Arts Center catered exclusively to high-society clients and paid its instructors top-tier salaries. "Join us, and you won't have to worry about your mother's medical expenses anymore. Resonance offers the highest salaries in the industry, plus generous year-end bonuses. "But fair warning—our clients are loaded, and plenty of them, kids and parents alike, have nasty tempers. It'll take some getting used to, so brace yourself for a bumpy start." Jasmine nodded. "I get it. I'll tough it out." Three years at Calvin's side had hardened her to bad tempers. She prided herself on being unshakable. Penny took a sip of coffee before asking, "So, Jas, when do you want to start?"